Bill Passed In LS To Allow Building Public Projects In Protected Monuments

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill 2017 was passed in Indian parliament’s Lower House today allowing government henceforth to take up infrastructure projects within 100 metres prohibited periphery around protected monuments.

The bill was strongly opposed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and RSP MP NK Premachandran, but union minister of state for culture Mahesh Sharma argued the legislation to the 1958 Act turned as obstacles to construction in some areas and affected various public works as well as developmental projects of the central government.

He added, “Moving away from party lines, members have supported the bill.”

The current law says prohibited areas areas are those which are in the 100-metre radius around a protected monument and construction in such land cannot be carried out apart from repair and renovation works.

Tharoor questioned the bill saying such amendment would affect safety and security of the monuments as well as aesthetics of the monuments.”

Citing Ram Janmabhoomi of Ayodhya the Thiruvanandaram MP said if a road was built right past the Babri Masjid a newly found pillar would not have never known.

The bill was also strongly opposed by BJD MP Prabhas Kumar Singh.

About the Author

Paul Linus - Paul Linus is an eminent online journalist who has been writing news, features and editorials on different websites from across the world for about a decade. He can be contacted at knowledgeherald@gmail.com